---
title: "What safety requirements apply to a utility employee on a railroad crew? Answer in under 100 words."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/rail/safety-requirements-apply-utility-employee-railroad-crew-answer-under-100-words
jurisdiction: "US Federal · 49 CFR § 218.22"
last_verified: 2026-08-26
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# What safety requirements apply to a utility employee on a railroad crew? Answer in under 100 words.

A utility employee must comply with the Hours of Service Act, training, and alcohol/drug control requirements. They may serve only one train or yard crew at a time. Without blue signal protection, they can work only if the controlling locomotive engineer is in the cab, communication is established, and they perform specific functions like setting handbrakes or coupling air hoses. No more than three utility employees may be attached to one crew.

## Details / How it works

Under § 218.22, a utility employee is subject to Hours of Service Act requirements and regulations for training, alcohol/drug control, and hours of service record keeping. They must be assigned to only one crew at a time. To work without blue signal protection, the controlling locomotive must be under the engineer's control, the engineer must be in the cab, and the utility employee must establish communication with a designated crew member. The designated crew member must notify all crew members of the utility employee's presence and identity. The utility employee may then perform specific functions such as setting or releasing handbrakes, coupling or uncoupling air hoses, and conducting air brake tests. After ceasing work, the utility employee must notify the designated crew member, who then notifies the crew of the release. No more than three utility employees may be attached to one crew.

## Exceptions & edge cases

If the utility employee is not assigned or authorized to work with a crew under the conditions of § 218.22(b), they must be provided blue signal protection in accordance with §§ 218.23 through 218.30. The alternative protection specified in § 221.16 for rear end marking devices is not affected. Communications required for notification must be conducted via direct verbal contact, radio complying with part 220, or oral telecommunication of equivalent integrity.

## Sources

- [1] U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 49 CFR 218.22 — Utility employee · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-218.22 · as of 2026-08-26